Metallica rocks Virginia Tech’s stadium, fans cause mini ‘earthquake’ with synchronised jumping

Virginia Tech Athletics celebrated the moment on Facebook, posting several updates. In one post, they wrote, “Thanks for jumping with us, Metallica! Come back anytime,” alongside a video showing the crowd jumping and cheering during the band’s performance.

The seismic tremor, quickly dubbed the “Metallica Quake,” created a buzz, although officials clarified there was no risk involved. “The magnitude would have been less than 1.0,” Chapman said, adding, “Too small to be felt even a mile away.”

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He noted the scale of the motion was linked to the audience size and enthusiasm. “It just depends on how many people are in the stadium at the time, of how big the signal will be,” Chapman told ABC 13 News. “What we recorded last night is a lot bigger than what we see at a football game, so Metallica really got the crowd rocking there.”

Formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, Metallica has become one of the most iconic heavy metal bands in the world. Now based in San Francisco, the band’s current lineup includes Hetfield, Ulrich, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo. Former members include guitarist Dave Mustaine, who later founded Megadeth, and bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton, and Jason Newsted.